Gonzales Heroin Drug Detox and Rehab Treatment Centers

What Does Heroin Addiction Look Like?

Heroin is a typical opioid in terms of how addictive it is, and it leads to both physical and psychological addiction. While users may be able to hide their addiction for a brief time, there are many telltale signs you can look for if you believe a friend or loved one may be in trouble and require heroin rehab.

On top of these immediate and short-term effects, long-term heroin abuse can also lead to dangerous health complications, such as heart problems, chronic pulmonary disease, blood-borne infections from needle sharing, blood clots, bacterial infections, liver disease, arthritis, and seizures. Without the help from an effective heroin treatment center, many of these health problems can be life-threatening, and addicts are always at risk of dying from an overdose.

What are the long-term effects of heroin abuse in Gonzales, LA?

Prolonged use of heroin has devastating physical effects. Chronic users may develop liver disease, collapsed veins, abscesses and infections. They may experience pulmonary diseases such as pneumonia. Because heroin sold on the street is not pure, it may contain additives that can clog vessels in the brain, lungs, kidneys or liver. If this complication does not result in death, it can cause infection. It destroys the addict both physically and emotionally if used for a long enough period of time. Call us to find out how we can find you a heroin rehabilitation center that will keep things from going this far.

Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Addiction

If someone is using heroin on a regular basis, you may notice many different changes in both their appearance and behavior. Their skin may be flushed. They may keep scratching "itchy" skin. They may experience vomiting, shallow breathing or even fall asleep without warning. If they are using with needles, you may notice needle marks as well, but now that so many people prefer to sniff or smoke heroin, marks (or lack thereof) are not the only thing you should be looking for. Besides those signs, you may also stumble across their equipment — rubber tubing, syringes, metal or glass pipes, or even dirty spoons.

Inpatient Rehab Facilities vs. Outpatient Addiction Clinics in Gonzales, LA

When selecting a heroin treatment center, you have the option of choosing between an inpatient facility and an outpatient clinic. Individual treatment needs are naturally going to vary, and there are certain benefits (and drawbacks) to both types of treatment for heroin addiction that may inform the decision for treatment type.

Outpatient facilities can vary widely. Many outpatient rehabs provide treatment in the form of education, group therapy, individual therapy, and in some cases, access to psychiatric care or medication assisted treatment. Outpatient programs range in levels of intensity and, to some extent, the treatment plan can be tailored to each client, with the number and type of scheduled weekly groups varying based on the individual’s needs.

The time commitment can be substantial in an inpatient (residential) rehab setting, and studies suggest that a minimum of 90 days in treatment is essential for successful outcomes and long-term sobriety. Due to the tenacious nature of heroin addiction and the many facets of an individual’s life it affects, an inpatient treatment program is commonly sought.

Heroin is highly addictive, both mentally and physically. Those who attempt to quit often suffer from a withdrawal period that can be extremely uncomfortable. A benefit of many inpatient treatment programs is that they commonly include some form of medically supervised detox and around-the-clock support to keep those recovering a safe and comfortable as possible—minimizing relapse risks.

Heroin Detox in Gonzales, LA

The next step in the heroin rehab is detox from heroin. The main objective of detox is to relieve your withdrawal symptoms while your body adjusts to functioning without the drug. Detox from heroin should be completed under medical supervision.

The type of detox program will depend on the facility chosen. Some facilities choose to ease the detox process through medication-assisted treatment. Providing tapering doses of replacement medications such as Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone), buprenorphine, or methadone can reduce the symptoms of withdrawal in a safe, medically monitored setting.

Another type of detox method is abstinence-only or social detox. With this type of detox, there is no replacement drug, and the patient will simply stop using the drug, with no opioid replacement support to minimize the symptoms of withdrawal. Many find this form of detox quite challenging in cases of heroin withdrawal. More recently, medication assisted detox is becoming an increasingly common method for managing heroin dependence.

Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms begin between 4 and 24 hours after the last dose of heroin. The severity and duration of withdrawal may depend on how long the individual used heroin, as well as the amount and method of heroin use.

Heroin withdrawal symptoms are described as a severe case of the flu, and typically include:

• Mood changes, like agitation and anxiety;
• Increased body secretions (runny nose, teary eyes, and sweaty skin);
• Stomach problems (nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea, and loss of appetite);
• Muscle problems (aches, twitching, shivering);
• Sneezing;
• Goosebumps;
• Yawning

Rehab Near or Away From Home in Gonzales, LA

Whether you should travel or check in to a heroin rehab center that is near you is a personal choice. If there are a lot of family members and sober supports within the community, staying close may be a better choice.

Some individuals find that traveling helps them start the new path of recovery and avoid outside stressors or triggers. The most important aspect is that the individual seeking treatment feels sufficiently safe and comfortable to focus on treating the addiction.

Why You Should Enter a Residential Treatment Center in Gonzales, LA?

The risk of heroin relapse is high, particularly during the early part of the recovery process. People can amend their medications and put their health at risk, or they can run into dealers and street hawkers with heroin to sell. Temptation can be around every single corner when people keep living at home, but much of that disappears in a residential program. Here, no drugs are allowed. It's a clean environment, filled with people who want to get better and staffers who want to help people to do just that.